Novak Djokovic Reflects Honestly on Miami Open Exit After Stunning Defeat
Novak Djokovic didn’t hold back after his shocking early exit from the Miami Open, admitting he simply wasn’t at his best. The world No. 1 suffered a surprising third-round loss to Italian player Luca Nardi, a lucky loser ranked outside the top 100. The defeat marked a disappointing return to Miami for Djokovic, who was playing in the tournament for the first time since 2019.
Speaking to the media after the match, Djokovic was brutally honest about his performance.
“I just wasn’t feeling the ball well,” he admitted. “I struggled to find my rhythm, and credit to him—he played without pressure and took his chances. I had my opportunities, but I didn’t take them.”
Djokovic, a six-time champion in Miami, acknowledged that the loss was tough to swallow, especially given his strong start to the season. The Serbian had entered the tournament hoping to gain more match play ahead of the clay-court season, but his campaign was cut short far earlier than expected.
“Of course, I’m disappointed,” he said. “You never want to lose, especially in a tournament where you’ve had success before. But this is tennis. Sometimes you have good days, sometimes bad ones. Today was one of those bad days.”
At 36, Djokovic remains at the top of the sport, but questions about his schedule and form have started to arise. He chose to skip the Indian Wells Masters earlier in March, making Miami his first event since his semifinal loss at the Australian Open. When asked whether a lack of match play contributed to the loss, Djokovic admitted it was possible.
“It’s hard to say,” he said. “I made the decision to play less this year, to focus on the biggest tournaments. But sometimes, you need matches to build confidence. I’ll have to see how I approach things moving forward.”
Despite the setback, Djokovic remains focused on his primary goals for the season, including the upcoming clay and grass-court swings.
“It’s a long season. This is just one tournament,” he said. “I’ll go back to training, work on my game, and get ready for what’s next.”
With the Monte Carlo Masters and Roland Garros on the horizon, Djokovic will look to bounce back quickly. If history is any indication, he tends to respond well to adversity—making his next appearance one to watch.